Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-16
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE PERSPIRING CLERKS.
The Csages in Government Offices q
to Shirt Sleeves.


Ths Usages in Government Offices -
to shirt Sleeves.
NO GENERAL RULE FOLLOWED UNDER THE PRESENT
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DCsrER STERILIZATION
OF THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS on TIE oUEs
IIoS-sAruRDAY EARLY CLOSING.
"Myi amt it hot7" OF course ir is; everybody
knows that, and everybody is hot. There are
some people who cherish the delusion that they
are a little bit hotter than anybody else In the
world. They are willing to acknowledge that there
may have been other hotter days In the many
years since the creation OF the earth. and that
during that long period there have been members
od the human family who have been somewhat
warm. But still they have an idea that there
never has been day quite so hot as yesterday or
the day before, some day last week, and what Is
more, they are convinced that no one, since the
sun began 10 shine upon this planet ever felt the
OF hot weather is something novel and unique,
and stands entirely apart and alone In the aggre-
gated experience OF inc human family. ConIaet
one OF the most aggravating Incidents OF life:
They are more exasperating than an unexpected
has unlimited, sought the cool retreat which a
pants leg affords. They make every body feel
twice as warm the weather really Justif1es, and
they insist upon being uncomfortable out loud
One such person in a room full OF clerks in one
Of the Government Departments will leaven the
whole mass. There Is no escaping from her or
him, as the case may be. III some good-natured
soul doubts whether IL Is as hot after all as every
body says IL is, this
PROPHET OF Rot WEATHER
has the thermometric readings at the end Of his
tongue and brushes charitable superstition with
the iron heel of stern fact. II she IS a woman and
1ont read the newspapers, then she keeps her own
thermometers and fOrtifieS herself with the facts
which are calculated 10 justify her efforts to In
crease her own unhappiness and make everybody
sse uncoRfortaole. so the warm weather Is
bound tQ9rnd an entrance TO the Department
buildings although they are so constructed. as
rule, TO exclude so far as practicable the heat OF
the sun. The great stone buildings, with their
wide corridors and ample doorwayS and windows,
the latter shaded by awnings are cool workshops,
n there Is any such place In this latitude during
buildings do get warmed up after a While, and
then the clerks adopt their warm-weather tactics
Coats and vests come Oh, and so do Collars and
neckties
THE DCsTER TRICK.
Sometimes clerk adopts the happy device Of
wearing a long linen buster, which, when but
toned up, satisfies the proprieties, but arouses the
suspicion that it constitutes the clerks entire out
nt with the exception OF the shoes and stockings.
But this outward conformity TO propriety is neceS-
sary, because the ladies who are in the same
room sometimes object 10 shirt sleeves; and then,
again, head of Department regards the semi
undress as Incompatible With the dignity of the
ofiice, and 50 the clerks are compelled 10 wear
coats, and envy other clerks employed in of1ceS
where Ideas are not quite so rigid.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
"In the state Department" observed coatlesS
clerk, who was tilted back In his chair with his
feet the desk, chatting about hot weather regu-
lations "in the state Department the clerks have
their underShirtS starched, and the atmosphere
Is 50 chilly that they wear their winter clothes all
summer"
nice the ladies look in summer. The cool white
dresses, with little holes all around the neck and
out. My eyes! but don't they look nice" and his
eyes closed, and he rocked himself In sort Of
gentle ecStacy.
There Is no general regulation in the several
Departments In regard TO the summer attire of the
clerks, and the absorbing question OF coats or no
coats has never been aut horitattveIy passed upon
In this matter the comfort OF The clerks Is subject
10 the local influences OF either the ladies In the
room or the fancy OF ths chief OF the bureau
division.
THE POSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION
Owing TO this unsettled condition OF affairs and
the absence Of recognized ruling there Is occa-
Nonally some friction when q clerk, goaded to
desperation by the heat, defles precedents and
strips himself TO the lowest notch OF what is re-
whether this Administration proposed to place
itself on record on this question q STAR reporter
consulted some OF the authorities.
AftOrney-General Garland, who, as the law
of1cer OF the Government, would probably be
called upon 10 consider this matter was not inter-
viewed for the reason that Official etiquette would
forbid him TO discuss matter which was likely to
come before him In his capacity as law adviser of
the Government A STAR reporter, however, con-
learned from him that '.the old man" was known
20 take on his coat on a warm day and SIT down to
lions Just as II he In his own ONCE at HoIniny
Hin. From this fact an inference might be drawn
ton.
As the differences Of opinion on this subject
among the clerks in the Departments have at
times created situations which closely bordered
opiRton OF the head OF the War Department would
De OF value. ON bis way TO the Secretary's door
n the Secretary sat in his shirt sleeves during
ONCE hours. 1t seemed as II the man had sud-
denly seen ghost, his lower jaw fell, his knees
trembled, and then his teeth began TO chatter
Fearing that the man would never recover and
not wishing TO be considered party TO his Death
wondering If the Question mad such aemora se
effect upon mere messenger how It would have
affected the secretary.
AN INTERVIEW WITH Mr.. Villas.
The Post-Office Department Is said to come
nearer 70 the people In their private affairs than
any other Department OF the Government, and 80
the inquirer thought that the Postmaster General
might know something about the matter. Taking
counsel from past experience he said nothing TO
any OF the subordfnateS, but went directly TO the
Postmaster General himself After the usual pre-.
nminarfes about the weather for the past few
some illusions TO the predictions OF the Weather
Bureau, the reporter finally, as he saw that the
attention OF Mr.: Villas was becoming absorbed in
the papers on the desk before him, asked:
what Is your opinion OF the propriety of the
clerks going without their coats during ONCE
hours?"
"I think" said Mr.. Villas, looking up quickly and
talking with unusual animation, .'tnaJ IL the
President will only come that the people OF Wis
consin VIII give him a cordial and hearty wei
come"
The visitor was considerably astonished. but
attributed this unexpected reply 10 the great in
ter0st which the PostmaSter-General takes in the
Presidents proposed western trip, and was about
70 remind him that the question had not been an
sWered wnen Congressman walked In with
retinue Of constituents, and the interview came to
an end
fHB SATURDAY EARLY CLOSING SENTIMENT
From the above II may be concluded that this
question either Is or Is not being considered by
The authorities, and In the meantime the clerks
VIII probably continue 10 wear as few clothes as
possible during the hot weather when ever they
are given chance 10 follow their inclinations
Perhaps what they would regard as q more I'm
portant matter. Is the question whether the
authorities can be prevailed upon 10 close the de-
pArtmentS at o'clock on SATURDAY. during the
heated term. In the days OF the Hayes admins
tratlon saturday was partially holiday and
many OF the clerks remember that time with
longfngs for It's return. There has been no move
made as yet 10 bring this about, but it IS ire
quenty the subject or conversation In the various
Departments
Red Clouds Title.
aoW TIE SIOUX ARE GovERNEp-RED croup THE
CHIEF ONLY OF ONE BAND.
To the Editor Of the EVENING STAR:
In your reference TO the Indian Red Clouds reply